View Poll Results: go to Mazda or no?
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll
help me choose
08-06-2007, 12:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
so today I have a meeting at Mazda to discuss pay and stuff and I'm still on the edge.
My current job I'm the head tech but the traffic has gone down and were slow a lot. I make most of my money off commission. I make about 750 before taxes and between 100-500 a week in commission. I'm comfortable and have decent power but its boring and a lot of times I work on 2 dollar falling apart cars plus I work 65 hours a week.
Mazda is gonna be busy but probably more fun cause I enjoy working on newer less crappy cars. The pay might/should be better as I'm a solid B tech I just don't have mazda or dealer experience and I think I also get a day off. But I'm nervous about not catching on to the dealer method and sucking at the type of work and stress they have.
I think I'm just nervous about losing my level of comfort and power I think I'd rather work at mazda and be busy and have the potential to make really good money ( I make about 55k now which ain't bad but I spend it rapidly)
Your opinions? ( I'll post mazda's pay offer after my meeting at 4)
Kevin
My current job I'm the head tech but the traffic has gone down and were slow a lot. I make most of my money off commission. I make about 750 before taxes and between 100-500 a week in commission. I'm comfortable and have decent power but its boring and a lot of times I work on 2 dollar falling apart cars plus I work 65 hours a week.
Mazda is gonna be busy but probably more fun cause I enjoy working on newer less crappy cars. The pay might/should be better as I'm a solid B tech I just don't have mazda or dealer experience and I think I also get a day off. But I'm nervous about not catching on to the dealer method and sucking at the type of work and stress they have.
I think I'm just nervous about losing my level of comfort and power I think I'd rather work at mazda and be busy and have the potential to make really good money ( I make about 55k now which ain't bad but I spend it rapidly)
Your opinions? ( I'll post mazda's pay offer after my meeting at 4)
Kevin
08-06-2007, 01:19 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MENLO MAZDA
Posts: 192
Mazda's a cool place to be, but working on bitchy customer cars all day can be a pain. I would think that downfall of mazda is doing all the diag work. BUt If that doesn't affect you then go for it. Just make sure the other techs you work with are fun and hopefully rotary nuts like us.
If i had my way, id stay at your current job. For 1 you got it down like no other. Your the head tech. Hours might be long, but you dont have to work as much. You have down time to work on your on little things if you want.
If i had my way, id stay at your current job. For 1 you got it down like no other. Your the head tech. Hours might be long, but you dont have to work as much. You have down time to work on your on little things if you want.
08-06-2007, 01:21 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbia IL/St. Louis MO
Posts: 2,748
Well, when you say you are not mazda trained, it's a bunch of bologna. All cars are the same no matter how you look at them. Just remember you will be doing alot of bullshit warranty work. The stealership I used to work for always bitched about warranty work and not getting payed as much on it.
08-06-2007, 01:51 PM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
Well, when you say you are not mazda trained, it's a bunch of bologna. All cars are the same no matter how you look at them. Just remember you will be doing alot of bullshit warranty work. The stealership I used to work for always bitched about warranty work and not getting payed as much on it.
Mazda training, or any specific car training is actually worth a lot. Cars may SEEM to be all the same but take it from me i currently work on ANY make and model car...every car has its own specific bitchy points, its own shortfalls, and they ALL have their own little tricks. car specific training allows you to know much more detail about specific cars to help you get through the diag process and actual work faster.
Warranty work is a good point as you make a lot less hours but if i can do it fast it should negate that issue, and the more you do it the faster it goes. Never had to race against book time before though, which is a nother point that has me concerned.
theres really like 3 or 4 things making me re-think working at a dealership. and thats why im stuck.
kevin.
08-06-2007, 04:11 PM
#5
Super Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 2,532
If the pay is right, and it's a good package, go for it! You'll never get ahead staying where you are. Successful people take risks. Get out of your comfort zone.
And one small piece of unsolicited advice: Ask for a little more than they're offering, whether it's better health insurance, an extra week of vacation, or a little more pay. Odds are, they'll give it to you.
And one small piece of unsolicited advice: Ask for a little more than they're offering, whether it's better health insurance, an extra week of vacation, or a little more pay. Odds are, they'll give it to you.
08-06-2007, 10:36 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbia IL/St. Louis MO
Posts: 2,748
Originally Posted by teknics' post='879589' date='Aug 6 2007, 01:51 PM
Bitchy customers is simply a given in the automotive field, anywhere you go, and nothings worse then a customer with a 20year old car who is bitchy because it still doesnt feel brand new....********.
I have a few friends at the mazda place already, and its a HUGE mazda so lots of work coming in.
As for diag work, I havent been able to figure out if the diag at mazda would be harder or easier then my diag work now...mainly because right now i have to be able to diag any car that comes in my shop, at mazda id imagine it would be easier. BUT sometimes i can brush off customers and send them to the dealer when i cant solve a problem, at the dealer I can't brush them off... this is mainly where im stuck on which job to go with.
Mazda training, or any specific car training is actually worth a lot. Cars may SEEM to be all the same but take it from me i currently work on ANY make and model car...every car has its own specific bitchy points, its own shortfalls, and they ALL have their own little tricks. car specific training allows you to know much more detail about specific cars to help you get through the diag process and actual work faster.
Warranty work is a good point as you make a lot less hours but if i can do it fast it should negate that issue, and the more you do it the faster it goes. Never had to race against book time before though, which is a nother point that has me concerned.
theres really like 3 or 4 things making me re-think working at a dealership. and thats why im stuck.
kevin.
I have a few friends at the mazda place already, and its a HUGE mazda so lots of work coming in.
As for diag work, I havent been able to figure out if the diag at mazda would be harder or easier then my diag work now...mainly because right now i have to be able to diag any car that comes in my shop, at mazda id imagine it would be easier. BUT sometimes i can brush off customers and send them to the dealer when i cant solve a problem, at the dealer I can't brush them off... this is mainly where im stuck on which job to go with.
Mazda training, or any specific car training is actually worth a lot. Cars may SEEM to be all the same but take it from me i currently work on ANY make and model car...every car has its own specific bitchy points, its own shortfalls, and they ALL have their own little tricks. car specific training allows you to know much more detail about specific cars to help you get through the diag process and actual work faster.
Warranty work is a good point as you make a lot less hours but if i can do it fast it should negate that issue, and the more you do it the faster it goes. Never had to race against book time before though, which is a nother point that has me concerned.
theres really like 3 or 4 things making me re-think working at a dealership. and thats why im stuck.
kevin.
I am not denying the fact that Mazda's Miata is different from Pontiac's Solstice, but the "basic" operations of a vehicle are the same, just small little tiny things are different from car to car. It's still an engine, 4 wheels, and a bunch of iron and steel when you get rid of all the other bullshit.
08-07-2007, 07:34 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
well got the offer to $16/he starting 40hr base pay flat rate (up to $18 if I do 60+hrs) with a $2 base raise upon completion of web based training so I think I'm going to go for it. Especially based on what 88 said no one who was successfuljust sat around waiting for their success. I think I need a challenge, a change in my routine. I think it'll work out good.
Kevin.
Kevin.
08-07-2007, 10:09 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
yah go for it, kev, you can always go independent again if you want too.
the dealership is a little different than an independant, especially if its a larger one. theres more of "this is my job, and thats not my job" stuff going on.
imo i like to diagnose stuff, and i like fixing squeaks and rattles, and changing carpets and stuff like that. i dont like doing services, its boring. so i like doing warranty work, and the new mazda's are soooooOOooo easy I, ME the parts guy, can make time on warranty work.
so go for it!
the dealership is a little different than an independant, especially if its a larger one. theres more of "this is my job, and thats not my job" stuff going on.
imo i like to diagnose stuff, and i like fixing squeaks and rattles, and changing carpets and stuff like that. i dont like doing services, its boring. so i like doing warranty work, and the new mazda's are soooooOOooo easy I, ME the parts guy, can make time on warranty work.
so go for it!
08-07-2007, 11:10 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Stacked outside you're trailer door
Posts: 1,430
While I agree with 88s statement about having to take risks to get ahead you still gotta be careful with it. Sometimes you run into the whole "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence". How much more money are you going to be making with Mazda?
Either way best of luck in your new job.
Either way best of luck in your new job.